25 Simple Pleasures for 2025
Small joys, like preteen texts, Ikea napkins, and the celebrity I ran into on a plane!
Happy New Year!!! How are you doing?
During transition times, I like to remind myself of the idea of happiness vs. wholeness, and how life is about embracing a complete range of experiences. “Happiness and victory and fulfillment are nice little things that happen to us, but they don’t teach us much,” writes Hugh MacKay. “Wholeness is what we ought to be striving for, and part of that is sadness, disappointment, frustration, failure; all of those things which make us who we are.”
I think about this sentence of his every few weeks of my adult life: “Ask yourself, ‘Is this contributing to my wholeness?’ and if you’re having a bad day, it is.”
No matter what life brings, though, we can look for small moments of joy, so on that note, we asked friends to share their simple pleasures…
“Hanging eucalyptus in the shower. I get a bundle at the bodega and roll it with a rolling pin or wine bottle to release the oil. Then, tie it up in the shower and let the steam do the rest of the work. Replace every three to four weeks.” — Aminatou Sow, author of Big Friendship
“Pulling out an old, forgotten cookbook and finding a recipe that you want to make, like the braised radicchio from Roger Vergé’s Vegetables in the French Style.” —
of The Amateur Gourmet“Watching my kids sleep. I love seeing their faces, relaxed and not-crazy and not fighting, and thinking, ‘I made this human!’” — Alison Piepmeyer of
“Going to a warm bar on a cold night. My girlfriend and I love this one that serves $2 bowls of tater tots.” — Abby Mallett, writer and Cup of Jo contributor
“Texts [above] from my preteen, whom I adore. You might think that I’m ghosting my child, but these are rapid-fire texts.” — Laura, Big Salad reader
Alone time. I can never have enough. Sometimes I go into the bathroom at a party just to be by myself.” — Hunter Harris, podcaster and writer of
“Lydia Davis’s short story ‘The Good Taste Contest,’ which is perfect and hilarious. It’s about a husband and wife whose taste is judged by their friends. I always think of it when my husband and I are dealing with banal life stuff, and it makes me laugh every time.” —
of
“This knit hood, which is so cozy that I even wear it inside.” — Simone Kitchens, New York Magazine editor
“Snuggling our rabbit, Honey Bunny, who was supposed to be a weekend guest and has become a treasured member of our household. There’s no bad day that her sweet presence can’t redeem!” — Annie, Big Salad reader
“My two-year-old’s face when his classroom door cracks open and he sees me at pickup — I feel like the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. Also, plucking out The Chin Hair every few months.” — Bess Kalb, memoirist and writer of
“Ikea napkins are great and ever-changing. I hauled so many home from Sweden this summer and give them as gifts.” — Liz Libré, co-founder of Lewis
“My 11-year-old and I watch Parks and Rec in the evening, along with bowls of semi-sweet chocolate chips.” —
of Burnt Toast“My husband plays slow songs by Fleet Foxes on his guitar to unwind at the end of the day. I love it.” — Maria, Big Salad reader
“When my dog, Leroy, has been sleeping in my bed, so it’s already warmed up for me.” — Ruth Chan, illustrator and author of Uprooted
“I get a kick out of bumper stickers in L.A. traffic. My favorites include ‘I’d Rather Be Crying to Enya’ and ‘Honk if you’re letting the soft animal of your body love what it loves’ (shoutout Mary Oliver-heads).” — Hopie Stockman Hill, painter and co-founder of Block Shop Textiles
“Knitting baby sweaters quiets my mind. I recently got a stitch counter, which you wear around your neck, and it’s a game changer!” — Jessie Randall, founder of Loeffler Randall and Jessie Loves
“Reading poetry is a wonderful way to wind down. I just read Victoria Chang’s gorgeous book, With My Back to the World.” —
, author of Slowing and
“Watching my kids cuddle my college friends’ babies. It’s like time folds in on itself, and I feel bowled over by love.” — Kathleen, Big Salad reader
“On long drives, my husband and I listen to the podcast This Is Actually Happening, where people talk about harrowing experiences, like growing up in a cult. (Photo of my dishy husband driving — is this why I like road trips so much?)” — Catherine Newman, novelist and writer of
“Peanut butter toast for breakfast, especially what I call the peninsula bite. That bite where you've eaten all the edges of the toast except for the gooey middle part that you’re holding. Best way to start the day.” — Ashleigh, Big Salad reader
“My simple pleasure is reading on the couch with a nice blanket and the cat. When I met my husband eight years ago, I told him, ‘All I want to do is lie on the couch, reading.’” — Anne Lamott, author of many wonderful books (WHOM I SAT BEHIND ON A FLIGHT THIS WEEK!!!!!!!! SHE ASKED TO BORROW AN IPAD CHARGER AND I SAID I LOVED HER SO MUCH I WOULD GIVE HER ANYTHING SHE WANTED AND SHE SAID THAT I LOOKED TOO YOUNG TO BE A MOM OF TEENAGERS AND WE TALKED ABOUT HER WRITING AND SON AND FAITH AND WHEN WE DEPLANED THE LADY BEHIND *ME* SAID SHE COULDN’T BELIEVE I HAD SCORED A SELFIE WITH THE LEGENDARY ANNE LAMOTT AND I SAID NEITHER COULD I!!!!)
Falling in love.
Bodega flowers.
Warm lunches.
My baby growing taller than the grandparents. (!)
What Are Your Simple Pleasures? The comments are very fun.
A Cool Way to Do New Year’s Resolutions. No hard-and-fast rules.
What Glimmers Are You Noticing These Days? Mustaches, for one.
10 Readers Share Their Happy Moments. From passing a driving test to getting a hearing dog. xo
(Cat photo by Jenny Jungle/Stocksy. Cookbook photo by Julia Robbs for Cup of Jo. Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.)
Thank you for reading; we’re so happy you’re here. Coming up soon: a very fun issue with Aminatou Sow, and the sex dynamic I’m noticing women being drawn to these days. Can’t wait to discuss and hear your thoughts, as always!
After a terminal cancer diagnosis last year at 46 while a single mom to 15, 12 and 9 year olds, so much became a simple pleasure, even the chores. Croissants with pistachio creme, my teen letting me cuddle him, buying my daughter’s first grown party dress, division homework, after school snacks, when my kids see me in the stands watching them play sports, silly movies with my mom. Everything that used to be a “have-to-do” became a “get-to-do”. The bittersweet lesson of my life.
I also just came here to say...Anne Lamott and Joanna!!! This made me tear up and feel like this must be a good sign for 2025. Both of you, with constant steady writing, have walked along with me on my way.